A great blue heron toying with a turtle. Photo Courtesy of Elarbi Taouil
Cub Run Stream Valley Park is one of Centreville’s treasures – a place where local residents can relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. And members of the Cub Run Stream Valley Park Volunteer Team work hard to make sure it stays that way.
It’s under the umbrella of the Fairfax County Park Authority, and resident Anthony Consumano is the team leader. Partnering with homeowners’ associations surrounding the park, the team preserves the park’s natural, historic and cultural aspects.
“We get the community involved in watershed cleanups, nature walks and photography classes,” said Annie Shields, volunteer coordinator for the Cub Run Rec Center. She and Consumano started the team together.
“Our goal is to build a more resilient community focused around the Cub Run Stream Valley Park,” explained Consumano. “People who are physically and mentally fit are better able to handle life’s ups and downs. And studies say that green spaces reduce stress and anxiety.”
CUB RUN STREAM VALLEY PARK is the third-largest park in Fairfax County, comprising about 800 acres behind the Cub Run Rec Center. And during the team’s cleanups, 50-100 people participated at eight different locations around the park.
“The Rec Center supports us by providing trash bags and gloves for our cleanups,” said Consumano. “And we hope more of the adjacent homeowners’ associations will help us find volunteers in their communities to help ensure the team’s viability into the future. Our message to people is to just get into the park and use it. They can hike, run, bike, walk, etc.
“We’ve put the framework into place so individuals passionate about nature, the environment, the community, health and wellness can join our team,” he continued. “Our motto is to preserve the park’s natural and historic parts, share our knowledge and experience, and connect with our neighbors and the park.”
The communities bordering the park are London Towne West, London Towne, Second London Towne West, Virginia Run, Sully Station I and II, Country Club Manor, Chalet Woods, Lee Overlook, Madison Ridge, Fairview, Pleasant Valley and Gate Post Estates I and II.
The team holds quarterly meetings and, at a recent one, two Centreville residents – Elarbi Taouil of Second London Towne West and Keith Freeburn of Rocky Run – shared the photos they took of the birds, butterflies, ducks and animals found in the park. “I love bird photography because it’s fun and a joy,” said Taouil. “Birds and animals live in their own world, and they’d help us, if we’d only stop and look at how they live their lives.”
He then discussed his photography techniques and showed slides of several of his photos taken in nearby Sully Woodlands, including an eagle, a red-shouldered hawk, an American robin, osprey and great blue heron. He’s done bird photography for more than 15 years.
Next, Freeburn – who also provides content for the team’s Facebook page – showed his photos, all taken in Cub Run Stream Valley Park. They included a barred owl, red-shouldered hawk, white-throated sparrow, ruby crowned kinglet, a 10-point buck, great-crested flycatcher, indigo bunting, a great-blue heron dancing, butterflies and ducks.
“To me, there are no more beautiful butterflies than the ones in Cub Run Stream Valley Park,” he said.
After the meeting, Bobbi Longworth, executive director of the Fairfax County Park Foundation, said, “It’s really great to have this group. It’s a grassroots effort and it’s a joy.”
THE TEAM’S LONG-TERM GOAL is to create self-organizing teams in each neighborhood to focus on the park area adjacent to each community. To interact with each other and share ideas, the team meets quarterly at the Centreville Regional Library. Anyone interested in supporting the park is welcome to attend.
Or check out the Cub Run Stream Valley Park Volunteer Team Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cubrunpvt/ for more information, to share photos and stay connected. To join the team, become a site leader or ask questions, email cubrunpvt@gmail.com.